Three dimensional display

ABSTRACT

Three dimensional displays are disclosed in which a pitching motion is imparted to a model ship. The display has a background member provided with apertures simulating stars and the moon and lighting behind the background member creates a star and moon light effect. The object moving means may be a part of a music reproducing device and has a control making music reproduction optional.

United States Patent (1 1 3,688,424

Von Zanten 1 Sept. 5, 1972 [54] THREE DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY 1,403,630 1/1922 ..40/106.$3 [72] Inventor: Peter Von Zmten, Farmington. L641, 9,1927

Maine 04938 2,782,560 2/1951 Po11n|tz.....

1,613,941 1/1927 Chums ..272/17 X [22] Filed: April 27, 1970 1 Appl 32,", Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-Richard Carter Anorney-AbbottSpear [52] U.S.Cl...................................40/106.53,272/17 [51] Int. 13/34 [57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search ..40/126 B, 106.3, 106.41, 67, m dmmioml display an disclosed in which a 40/106525. 272M." [8 pitching motion is imparted to a model ship. The display has a backgound member provided with aper- [56] Ram Cited tures simulating 81813 and the moon and lighting be- UNITED STATES PA'IEN'IS member m a te mo meansma a 3,370,366 2/1968 Van Zanten ..4o/2s.1 a music reproducinlfievixdm 1, m 2,102,414 12/1937 McKenna et a1. ..40/106.53 music reproduction opfionaL 872,627 12/1907 Keen ..272I17 2,145,457 1/1939 Patterson ..40/106.51 IDCHIIB, 11 Drawhgflguns '1 J, z" i. -\".J-. n

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PKTENTEBSEP' 5 m2 SHEET 3 BF 4 INVENTOR PETER VAN ZANTEN ATTORN PATENTED 5'97? 3.688.424

saw u or 4 |NVENTOR f 27 PETER VAN ZANTEN W BY,

ATTOR N EY THREE DIMENSIONAL DISPLAY The present invention relates to three dimensional marine or other pictures or displays.

In my US. Letters Pat. No. 3,370,366, a three dimensional marine picture or display, particularly suitable for wall decorations, is provided with a pitching motion imparted to a ship model to enhance its appeal.

One objective of the present invention is to provide improved means for pivoting the ship model relative to the surface of the display that simulates water, an objective attained by providing the drive with a cam located below the surface and spaced fron one end of the hull and preferably with its axis disposed transversely thereof. The hull is supported by a transverse pivot and has a cam following member that is sufficiently stiff to transmit the motion of the cam to the hull but yieldable to prevent damage if, for example the ship should be held while the drive is in operation and desirably bendable with sufficient ease to enable adjustments to be made of the hull-to-cam relationship.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide sky-simulating backgrounds with a twinkling star effect, an objective attained by providing a background member that has a plurality of apertures and a light source in back thereof, the apertures being disposed and dimensioned to simulate stars in the sky when light from the source shows through them. Desirably one aperture simulates the moon which is not affected by the means creating the twinkling star effect.

A specific objective of the invention is to have the star twinkling effect produced by providing the light source circuit with switch means operated by a cam driven by means by which the ship model is pivoted.

Another specific objective of the invention is to dispose a shield between the background member and the light source and provided with apertures which, when they are in registry with appropriate ones of the apertures in the background member, permit light to pass therethrough. The shield is mounted for movement into and out of positions providing such registry and is so moved while the ship pivoting means are in operation thus to provide the twinkling star effect.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide operating means that are adapted to meet a wide range of requirements in marine or other displays where both motion and music are wanted. In accordance with the invention, this objective is attained with an operating unit having a rotor provided with a number of radially projecting pins which are engageable with appropriate ones of a set of keys thus to reproduce music when the rotor is turned. The rotor drive preferably includes an electric motor and the rotor is mounted on a shaft to which it is connected or from which it is disengaged by a clutch. The shaft is also employed to cause the wanted motion which, accordingly, may or may not be accompanied by music.

In the accompanying drawings, there are shown embodiments of the invention illustrative of these and other of its objectives, novel features, and advantages.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a display in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken substantially along the indicated lines 2-2 of P16. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary section taken approximately along the indicated lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section taken approximately aiong the indicated lines 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the display with the frame and cover removed;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the back of the disp y;

FIG. 7 is a plan view, on a further increase in scale of the operating unit with the rotor connected thereto thus to reproduce music when the unit is in service;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view thereof with the rotor disengaged;

FIG. 9 is a view of the unit as seen from one end,

FIG. 10 is a schematic view illustrating another embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 11 a face view of the shield.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIGS. 1-9, an outer frame 15 is secured to a rectangular casing 16 closed by a back wall 17 whose inner surface is a reflector, conveniently an aluminum foil sheet 17A. A background sheet 18 has its ends curved forwardly and secured to the sides of the casing 16 close to the frame 15 and divides the casing into an outer display area and a rearward chamber. A layer 19 of a material that may have its surface simulate water is supported in the display area between the background sheet 18 and the frame 15. For this purpose, a layer of expansible, cellular polystyrene is satisfactory as its surfaces may be roughened and painted to represent white-capped waves. In addition, such a layer may be cut to provide a central opening 20 and a subjacent chamber 21 and can be easily and securely held in place by a suitable adhesive.

The central opening 20 is dimensioned to receive the hull 22 of a model ship having parallel slots 23 in its bottom to receive the free ends of a U-shaped mount 24 secured to the bottom of the casing I6. A pointed pivot 25 is driven transversely through the hull 22 and through holes in the free ends of the mount 24 but does not penetrate the exposed side thereof. The pivot 25 is preferably located rearwardly of the center of gravity of the ship.

A unit, generally indicated at 26, has a plate 27 fixed on the bottom of the casing 16. The unit, best seen in FIGS. 7-9 is a music reproducing device of the type having a rotor 28 driven by an electric motor 29 and provided with a plurality of radially projecting pins 30 engageable, in desired order, with appropriate ones of the keys 31. The rotor-supporting shaft 32 is provided with a cam 33 spaced from and below the bow of the ship to be engaged by the cam follower 34 which is in the form of a strip of metal secured to the bottom of the hull and bendable both to enable its relationship to the cam 33 to be varied and to yield should the ship be held or otherwise prevented from pivoting while the motor 29 is operating.

The unit 26 is conventional except that its rotor 28 is mounted on the shaft 32 for rotation independently thereof. The shaft 32 has a clutch 35, shown as a stud secured to a gear 36 fast on the shaft 32, engageable by the toothed end 37 of the rotor 28. The other end of the rotor 28 has a flange 38 straddled by the forked end 39 of a shifter 40 whose pivot 41 has its upper end threaded to receive a nut 42 by which the tension on the spring 43 may be varied to provide frictional opposition to unwanted movements of the shifter 40.

In practice, the background member 18 has a plurali ty of star-simulating holes 44 and a crescent-shaped aperture 45 representing the moon. A bar 46 of material that is a non-conductor of electricity is supported by the sides of the casing 16 between the background member 18 and the back wall 17. A circuit 47 includes a plurality of sockets 48 for small electric lamps attached to the bar 46 and disposed in opposite vertical directions. One socket and lamp is mounted behind the aperture 45. With this arrangement, a night sky effect is attained.

in accordance with the invention a shield 49 is connected to the bottom of the casing 16 by a pivot 50 and is connected through a slot 51 in the background member 18 to the hull 22 by a pin 52 preferably near one end thereof thereby to be pivoted to the maximum extent, the slot 51 being dimensioned to permit such pivoting. The shield has a plurality of holes 53 and as it pivots, light shines therethrough to produce twinkling star effects when they register with holes in the background member. The shield also has a hole 54 sufficiently large so that at no time is the moon blocked out as the shield 49 pivots.

it will be appreciated that the cam 33 is rotated slowly so that a realistic pitching motion is imparted to the model ship. As the shield 49 also pivots slowly, it is provided with a series of holes 53 for each star that is to twinkle. it will be appreciated that the reflective surface 17A contributes substantially to the night sky effeet.

In practice, one of the masts 55 supports a lamp socket 56 behind one of the sails 57 so that a concealed and shaded light may be used. As it might be desired to use such a light as a night light, its circuit 58 is desirably independent of the circuit 47.

[n the embodiment of the invention illustrated by FIG. 10, the twinkling star effect is accomplished electrically.

To that end, the shaft 32A for the cam 33A by which the model ship is caused to pitch includes a member 59 having spaced, peripheral cam portions 60. The circuit 61 to the motor 29A rotating the cam 33A includes a switch 62 and a light circuit. The light circuit includes a first lead 63 closed in one operative position of a switch 64 and a lead 65 closed in the other operative position thereof.

The light circuit lead 63 includes a normally open switch 66, closed by the cam portions 60 when the motor 29A is in service, the lamp sockets 48A and a parallel lead 67 including the lamp socket 488 behind the moon simulating aperture of the background member, while the sockets 48A are for the lamps providing light behind its star-simulating apertures. The lead 65 enables the switch 66 to be bypassed when the switch 64 is in its second operative position and the light circuit includes a lead 68 then placing the lamp socket 488 in series with the lamp sockets 48A.

With this arrangement, the motor circuit and the light circuit may be used independently of each other while utilizing the operation of the motor to effect control of the light circuit to produce the twinkling star effeet when desired.

1 claim:

1. In a three dimensional marine picture, a base, a background member having apertures therein, a shield having a plurality of holes therein, an electric circuit including a lead having lighting means in back of said member, said apertures simulating stars in the sky when light from said means shines through them, a ship model, a transverse pivotable connection between said hull and said base, means operable to pivot said model to simulate a pitching action, and means operable in response to the operation of said model-pivoting means to pivot said shield to effect light transmissions and thereby cause a twinkling star affect in the background as the pivoting of the model effects a pitching motion.

2. The marine picture of claim I in which the means causing the twinkling star effect include a cam driven by the means pivoting the ship model and switch means in the lighting means lead operated by said cam to open and close the circuit.

3. The marine picture of claim 2 in which one of the background member apertures is shaped and dimensioned to represent the moon and the electric circuit also includes a lead in parallel with the first named lead and provided with a light source in back of the moonsimulating aperture.

4. The marine picture of claim 3 and switch means in the second lead operable to bypass the cam-controlled switch means, and a connection between the leads then operable to place the light source of the second lead in series with the lighting means of the first named lead.

5. The marine picture of claim 1 in which the means causing the twinkling star effect is a shield supported between the background member and the light source for movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and the shield has apertures which admit light through appropriate ones of the apertures in the background member when substantially in registry therewith, and a connection between the shield and the ship model to effect shield movement, there being a series of shield apertures for each background member aperture that is to represent a twinkling star.

6. The marine picture of claim 5 in which the shield is pivotally supported by the base and the connection between the shield and the model extends through the background member.

7. The marine picture of claim 5 in which the model ship pivoting means includes a cam whose axis is below and adjacent one end of the hull of the model ship, the pivotal connection between the hull and the base is closer to the other end of the hull than it is to the first named end, and the connection between the shield and the hull is spaced lengthwise of the hull from the pivotal connection, and the background member has a hole through which that connection freely extends.

8. The marine picture of claim 5 in which one of the apertures in the background member is shaped and dimensioned to represent the moon and the shield has an opening dimensioned so that a portion thereof registers with the crescent in any position of the shield.

9. in a three dimensional marine display, a base, a model ship whose hull includes a transverse pivotable connection between the hull and said base, and electricaily operated means on said base including a cam whose axis is transversely of the hull and below but adjacent one end thereof, and a bendable member secured to said hull at said one end and including a portion spaced from said hull and in engagement with said cam so to effect the pitching motion of the ship as the cam rotates, said member being sufficiently rigid to effect the desired movement of the ship model as the cam rotates.

10. The marine picture of claim 9 in which the cam engaging member is secured to the bottom of the hull 5 and the spaced portion extends forwardly thereof. 

1. In a three dimensional marine picture, a base, a background member having apertures therein, a shield having a plurality of holes therein, an electric circuit including a lead having lighting means in back of said member, said apertures simulating stars in the sky when light from said means shines through them, a ship model, a transverse pivotable connection between said hull and said base, means operable to pivot said model to simulate a pitching action, and means operable in response to the operation of said model-pivoting means to pivot said shield to effect light transmissions and thereby cause a twinkling star affect in the background as the pivoting of the model effects a pitching motion.
 2. The marine picture of claim 1 in which the means causing the twinkling star effect include a cam driven by the means pivoting the ship model and switch means in the lighting means lead operated by said cam to open and close the circuit.
 3. The marine picture of claim 2 in which one of the background member apertures is shaped and dimensioned to represent the moon and the electric circuit also includes a lead in parallel wiTh the first named lead and provided with a light source in back of the moon-simulating aperture.
 4. The marine picture of claim 3 and switch means in the second lead operable to bypass the cam-controlled switch means, and a connection between the leads then operable to place the light source of the second lead in series with the lighting means of the first named lead.
 5. The marine picture of claim 1 in which the means causing the twinkling star effect is a shield supported between the background member and the light source for movement in a vertical plane relative thereto and the shield has apertures which admit light through appropriate ones of the apertures in the background member when substantially in registry therewith, and a connection between the shield and the ship model to effect shield movement, there being a series of shield apertures for each background member aperture that is to represent a twinkling star.
 6. The marine picture of claim 5 in which the shield is pivotally supported by the base and the connection between the shield and the model extends through the background member.
 7. The marine picture of claim 5 in which the model ship pivoting means includes a cam whose axis is below and adjacent one end of the hull of the model ship, the pivotal connection between the hull and the base is closer to the other end of the hull than it is to the first named end, and the connection between the shield and the hull is spaced lengthwise of the hull from the pivotal connection, and the background member has a hole through which that connection freely extends.
 8. The marine picture of claim 5 in which one of the apertures in the background member is shaped and dimensioned to represent the moon and the shield has an opening dimensioned so that a portion thereof registers with the crescent in any position of the shield.
 9. In a three dimensional marine display, a base, a model ship whose hull includes a transverse pivotable connection between the hull and said base, and electrically operated means on said base including a cam whose axis is transversely of the hull and below but adjacent one end thereof, and a bendable member secured to said hull at said one end and including a portion spaced from said hull and in engagement with said cam so to effect the pitching motion of the ship as the cam rotates, said member being sufficiently rigid to effect the desired movement of the ship model as the cam rotates.
 10. The marine picture of claim 9 in which the cam engaging member is secured to the bottom of the hull and the spaced portion extends forwardly thereof. 